Adjustable horizontal hole drilling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Adjustable horizontal hole drilling apparatus for simultaneous drilling of a plurality of holes in work pieces such as steel beams and the like, wherein reciprocably movable horizontally opposed heads mount drills in horizontally opposed movable relationship for operating engagement with opposite sides of the work piece, the drills being positionally vertically adjustable conjointly and severally, and wherein work piece hold down and element clamping means are provided. The apparatus is especially suited for, although not restricted to, drilling of holes in Ibeam flanges.

United States Patent Haley July 31, 1973 ADJUSTABLE HORIZONTAL HOLEDRILLING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Ernest K. Haley, 134 NorthwesternPky., Louisville, Ky.

22 Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 211 App]. No.: 211,897

[52] US. Cl. 408/46, 408/53 [51] Int. Cl B23b 39/18 [58] Field of Search408/46, 53, 42, 88

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,127,661 4/l964 McConnell408/46 X 3,529,496 9/1970 Haley 408/46 X 2,757,560 8/1956 Ridgway 408/46X 3,687,563 8/l972 McConnell 408/46 X 3,682,560 8/1972 Suizu 408/46Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-James F. CoanAttorney-David H. Semmes [5 7 ABSTRACT Adjustable horizontal holedrilling apparatus for simultaneous drilling of a plurality of holes inwork pieces such as steel beams and the like, wherein reciprocablymovable horizontally opposed heads mount drills in horizontally opposedmovable relationship for operating engagement with opposite sides of thework piece, the drills being positionally vertically adjustableconjointly and severally, and wherein work piece hold down and elementclamping means are provided. The apparatus is especially suited for,although not restricted to, drilling of holes in l-beam flanges.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEB JUL 3 I I975 sum 1 [IF 5 INVENTORERNEST K. HALEY ATTORNEY PATENIEL Y 9 SHEET 2 BF 5 gins f, Iii}; I TIL:

FL y F EEEEE PATENTEBJULB 191s SHEET 3 OF 5 a M m PATENTEDJUL 3 1 maSHEET '4 OF 5 illl'lii- PATENIEU JUL3 l I973 SHEET 5 UP 5 ADJUSTABLEHORIZONTAL HOLE DRILLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Fieldof the Invention A major problem in the steel fabrication industryoccurs in the simultaneous drilling of multiple holes in steel piecework, such as girders, I-beams, and the like. Multiple hole drillingapparatus and devices have heretofore been devised for handling I-beamsand the like. Such prior known devices have been elaborate, complex andcostly while at the same time requiring complex and time consuming drillbit adjusting mechanisms. Prior devices have additionally encountereddifficulties in appropriately and positively clamping the work piecesbeing drilled and have not permitted rapid and facile positionment withrespect to the work piece. Especially as applicable for horizontaldrilling of holes, such prior art devices have been substantiallylacking.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art multiple head drilling devicesare known, as shown, for example, in US. Pat. No. 3,501,982, issued Mar.24, 1970, to E. K. Haley, entitled Multiple Head Drilling Apparatuswhich discloses apparatus vertically mounting a set of drill bits,vertically movable into operative engagement with a supported I-beamwith the drive mechanism and chucks therefor being supported within avertically reciprocable carriage. Longitudinal and transverse adjustmentof the drilling bits is provided for. This known apparatus, however,does not permit vertical adjustment of the drills for varying thedisposition of holes to be drilled in, for example, I- beam flanges andthe known apparatus in use permits drilling holes from one side only ofthe work piece.

The present invention provides substantial improvements over and beyondsuch known apparatus.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, apparatusis provided for the drilling of multiple holes from laterally opposedopposite sides of a work piece, such as the respective flanges ofl-beams. The drills are adjustably mounted horizontally in reciprocablymovable horizontally opposed heads. The drills are positionallyvertically adjustable conjointly and severally to permit adjustment ofvertical adjustable positionment of drilling in the work piece andvertical adjustment between drills in a set on the head on each side ofa work piece for varying the drilling gauge between the drills. Suitablework piece hold down and clamping means are incorporated and the overallstructure is highly efficient in its use and operation.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become morereadily apparent from the following detailed description of anembodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, parts being broken away, of apparatusaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of drill vertical adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the adjustment mechanism of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of one end of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of thevertical adjusting means shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through a head showing the adjustment meansfor the drills and drill mount, including drill position locking means.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, an I- beam generallydesignated 10 or other work piece to be drilled, including web 12 andflanges 14 is appropriately supported by support means generallyindicated at 16 in a broken line on a base or support for the devicedesignated 18. A semi-fixed head 20 and a moving or movable head 22 aremovably supported on base 18 and adapted for movement toward and awayfrom one another. The semi-fixed head is movable to feed in and out fordrilling in relation to two fixed positions, preferably, and forexample, a back gauge position of 24 inches or less and a back gaugeposition between 36 inches and 24 inches. The moving or movable head 22feeds in and out for drilling in relation to the various beam sizes runthrough the apparatus. The normal starting point being plus or minusone-fourth inch from point of drill to face of flange. The semi-fixedhead after proper positionment is secured. The moving head 22 isadjustable through a traveling nut or the like 24 operatively secured tothe head coacting with a threaded bolt 26 operatively driven from amechanical jack drive 28, hydraulic cylinder, etc. A back gauge clamp30, shown in FIG. 1 in full lines in a rear position constitutes asemi-fixed clamp in operative association with the semi-fixed head 20.The semi-fixed clamp and semi-fixed head are movable through a clampingdrive generally designated 32 and associated clamping drive motor 34 toengage the outer end of a work piece, such as an I-beam flange, to bedrilled.

A moving clamp and/or back gauge 36 is adapted for positionment and workpiece engagement by a similar clamping drive 38 and clamping drive motor40. Hold down clamps generally designated 42 which can be hydraulic, airor otherwise include, for example, hold down cylinders 44 with rods 46operatively engaging the uppermost surface of the work piece such as thelbeam flange 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The foregoing structure is forsupport and positionment of different size work pieces and as shown tosupport I-beams of different sizes in position to drill holes throughthe flanges thereof in adjusted variable positions therethrough. Acommon web support plane is provided common to all beams asschematically shown.

Operably mounted and associated with each of the heads 20, 22 are upperand lower drills 46, 48 respectively mounted in chucks S0 and which inturn are mounted or carried by upper and lower plates 52, 54 adjustablymounted with respect to the heads. The

mounts and adjusting mechanisms are similar for each of the heads anddrills carried thereby and will be described hereinafter in greaterdetail. The individual drills are driven from universal joint driveshafts 56 through a drive train generally designated 58 which can be asilent chain, gearing or the like, drill drive motor 60 and chain or thelike 62. These drives for the drills can be similar to those shown in myaforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,501,982.

The apparatus of the present invention, as set forth.

hereinbefore, provides for adjustment of the drilling position of thedrills vertically with respect to a work piece to be drilled. To thisend means are provided for a gang adjustment of the drills on each sideof the work piece, or in other words in each head to adjust conjointlythe two drill bits mounted thereon. Additional means are provided forthe drills on each head for a gage adjustment to vary the distancebetween the drills. This mechanism will be readily understood byreference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. The upper and lower plate52, 54 in effect constitute spindle blocks which carry or mount theupper and lower drill bits 46, 48. As shown in FIG. 6, these spindleblocks have operatively associated therewith threaded nuts, the upperthreaded nut 64 having right hand threads and the lower threaded nut 66having left hand threads. The nuts are prevented from rotation by meansof keys 68. A shaft 70 having a right hand threaded portion 72 and aleft hand threaded portion 74 operatively engages in nuts 64, 66. Theshaft extends, at its upper portion through bushing 76 operativelyassociated with lifting and lowering plate 78. A connecting chain andsprocket generally indicated at 80 are attached to the upper end ofshaft 70. As seen from FIG. 3, four of the shafts 70 are so arrangedwith respect to the spindle blocksas to permit adjustment therebetweenin a stable parallel movement. This movement to separate the spindleblocks and/or to more closely proximate the same is effected through thecoacting left and right hand threads. The control or operating mechanismincludes a common chain 82 in the connecting chain and sprocketarrangement 80. An operating shaft 84 having a crank 86 at its upper endis rotatably mounted in a support plate 88 which is in a fixed positionand the lower end of shaft 84 has a sprocket 90 which engages with chain82. Upon rotation of shaft 84 through crank 86 the shafts 70 are rotatedeither clockwise or counter clockwise and function to vary the distancebetween spindle blocks 52, 54 and thereby relatively space drill bits 46and 48. This adjustment for relative spacing between the drill bitsaccommodates the apparatus not only to different dimensioned work piecesbut permits varying for any given work piece the vertical distancebetween holes drilled therein.

The apparatus also includes gang adjustment means for conjointly raisingand lowering the drill bits 46, 48 independently of the gage adjustmenttherebetween. This inciudes a center line adjustment lifting/loweringplate 90 in which are threadedly engaged lower threaded ends 92 of aplurality of rods 94 having at their upper end sprockets 96 commonlyengaged with chain 98. A crank or the like 100 is attached to one of therods 94 and upon rotation thereof will serve to raise or lower plate 90and together therewith conjointly the spindle blocks 52, 54 and drillbits 46, 48 carried thereby. This latter adjustment, which is for a gangadjustment of the drilling position in conjunction with the gageadjustment permits great flexibility with respect to the holes to bedrilled in work pieces as will be apparent.

Mounting and operating structure for the drill bits and structuraldetails thereof will be understood from FIG. 7 of the drawings. Thedrill bits 46 are of an oil hole drill type having a coolant passage 102operatively associated through a coolant or water jacket or sleeve 104,through port 106 with an appropriate coolant source. Chuck 50 isappropriately mounted on floating spindle 108 which is slidably mountedin a fixed spindle sleeve 110 in sleeve bearing 1 12. A compressionspring 114 engages between fixed spindle 110 and floating spindle 108. Aslot 116 is provided in fixed spindle 1 l0 for-continuous powertransmission when the floating spindle is extended or retracted and themounting apparatus includes interengaging dovetailed bars 118 and gibblocks 120 which are adjustable by gib adjustment screws 122. Thrustwashers 124 and clip rings 126 are associated with the fixed sleeve andsleeve hearing at opposite ends. The fixed spindle 110 is driven at end128 through drive shaft 56. An anti-rotation rod and finger generallyindicated at 130 are associated with the mounting head and coolantjacket. A locking block shown in full lines at 132 in a retracted ornon-drilling position is mounted on block guides 134 and operable by ahydraulic cylinder, solenoid or the like 136. The extended or drillingposition is indicated at 132A in dotted lines.

. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the apparatus ofthe present invention provides for adjustable horizontal hole drillingfor simultaneous drilling of a plurality of holes in work pieces withreciprocably movable horizontally opposed heads mounting drills inhorizontally opposed movable relationship for operating engagement withopposite sides of the work piece. The drills are vertically positionallyadjustable both conjointly and severally and work piece hold down andelement clamping means are provided. The apparatus is highly efficientin operation and yet has simplicity of construction.

Manifestly, minor changes in the details of the construction can beeffected in the shown and described embodiment without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined in and limited solelyby the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable horizontal hole drilling apparatus comprising:

A. a head;

B. vertically spaced drill bits operatively mounted in horizontaldrilling positions on said head;

C. drive means for said drill bits;

D. means for conjointly vertically adjusting the position of said drillbits to adjusted drilling positions with respect to a workpiece to bedrilled;

E. means for severally vertically adjusting the positions of said drillbits with respect to one another to adjusted spaced drilling positionswith respect to a workpiece to be drilled, including:

i. horizontally disposed upper and lower spindle blocks;

ii. said spindle blocks operatively mounting said drill bits;

iii. said spindle blocks respectively having therein oppositely threadedbores;

iv. a plurality of rods having spaced threads thereon respectivelycoactable with the oppositely threaded bores in the respective spindleblocks; and

v. means for simultaneously collectively rotating said rods whereby,through inter-engagement and coaction of said threaded portions in saidoppositely threaded bores the spindle blocks are H. a center lineadjustment lifting/lowering plate spaced from said support plate;

I. a plurality of rods rotatably mounted on said support plate havingthreaded end portions engaged in threaded bores in said lifting/loweringplate;

J. said severally adjusting rods threadedly engaged in said spindleblocks being vertically fixed with respect to said lifting/loweringplate; and

K. means for simultaneously rotating said rods in said bores in saidlifting/lowering plate, rotation of said rods vertically lifting orlowering said plate and together therewith said spindle blocks and drillbits carried thereby.

1. An adjustable horizontal hole drilling apparatus comprising: A. ahead; B. vertically spaced drill bits operatively mounted in horizontaldrilling positions on said head; C. drive means for said drill bits; D.means for conjointly vertically adjusting the position of said drillbits to adjusted drilling positions with respect to a workpiece to bedrilled; E. means for severally vertically adjusting the positions ofsaid drill bits with respect to one another to adjusted spaced drillingpositions with respect to a workpiece to be drilled, including: i.horizontally disposed upper and lower spindle blocks; ii. said spindleblocks operatively mounting said drill bits; iii. said spindle blocksrespectively having therein oppositely threaded bores; iv. a pluralityof rods having spaced threads thereon respectively coactable with theoppositely threaded bores in the respective spindle blocks; and v. meansfor simultaneously collectively rotating said rods whereby, throughinter-engagement and coaction of said threaded portions in saidoppositely threaded bores the spindle blocks are moved toward or awayfrom one another to thereby vertically adjust the positions of saiddrill bits with respect to one another to vertically adjusted spaceddrilling positions with respect to the workpiece to be drilled; F. saidrotating means for said rods including: i. sprockets fixed to said rods;ii. a rotatably mounting adjusting shaft; iii. a sprocket on said shaft;and iv. a chain operatively engaged with all said sprockets on said rodsand said shaft whereby upon rotation of said shaft all said rods aresimultaneously rotated; G. a support plate; H. a center line adjustmentlifting/lowering plate spaced from said support plate; I. a plurality ofrods rotatably mounted on said support plate having threaded endportions engaged in threaded bores in said lifting/lowering plate; J.said severally adjusting rods threadedly engaged in said spindle blocksbeing vertically fixed with respect to said lifting/lowering plate; andK. means for simultaneously rotating said rods in said bores in saidlifting/lowering plate, rotation of said rods vertically lifting orlowering said plate and together therewith said spindle blocks and drillbits carried thereby.